The New York Herald Newspaper, August 4, 1871, Page 6

THE WESTFIELD HORROR. | Another Visit to Bellevue Hospital. The Sick, the Suffering and the Dying. YESTERDAY’S FUNERALS. Phe Official Investigation of the United States Government Inspectors, Evidence of Robinson, the Colored Engi- neer of the Westfield. Remarkabie Revelations of His Incapacity. BELLEVUE HOSPITAL YESTERDAY. Bellevue Hospital begins to wear its wonted | fapect, the excitement of the past few days naving @ied away. The iriends of the few remaining sul- ferers stay by them day and night with an cnergy nd devotion which cannot be too highly com- mended. Among the Christian ladies who have been unremitting in their attention to the injured ‘ones Mrs. N. C. Bishop deserves tne most honorabie mention. Day and night, without rest or sicep, ghe has been from ward to ward and from bed to | bed administering delicacies and stimulants and ebeerful words to the poor patients, There is another Jady whose modesty prevented her giving ber name to the reporters, but whose Florence Wightingale kind of sympathy deserves that her wame shall be remembered by the world as lastingly ge it will be unquestionably by many patients ‘whose lives have certainly been saved by her devoted attentions. The name of this lady is Miss Armstrong, the principal of a @chool in Madison avenue. Miss Armstrong was at ‘the seaside at the time of the accident, and when she heard of it she immediately left for the city, and going (o the hospital took with her delicacies, fans and netting, and has both personally and pecunt- erily afforded invaluable help in the restoration of Many patients. This lady has gone from ward to ‘ward like a ministering angel, and we have the @uthority of several of the friends ofthe suffermg patients to state that, under Providence, they have $o thank Miss Armstrong for the preservation of the Rives of their friends, Yesterday and the day before Mrs. Dr. P. H. Murphy, Mrs. Dr. Baker, Mrs. Hamil- fen, Mrs. Brockwell, Mrs. Cauldwell, Mra, Ellie Jackson and Mrs. Watson have been assisting her, @nd under their care, together witn that of the hospital attacnés, who have been greatly relieved Yetand. At the time of the jon they stood on the forward part Of the boat, and, beside being badly scalded by the escaping s‘eam, were feariully cut and brursed by flying particies. In or der to avoid newspaper Rotoriety as much as possh ble they were taken y home in & carr rovided by their son, who escaped uninjured. (hey now lie in & Very precarious condition. Two brothers, named Damiel and Corneitus Hogan, were brought to the Centre Street Hospital yester- day inorning, from their residence, coraer of Oak ¢ Catharine streets, suffering from severe burns received on Sunday from vhe explosion on board the Westfleld. Tt is doubtful if they will survive. FUNERALS YESTERDAY. Funeral of Mrs. Finlay. The funeral of Mrs. Anastasia Finlay took place on Wednesday afternoon, at two o'clock, from No, 13 Essex street. Her remains were interred in Calvary Cemetery. Beside her was laid her infant, a boy nine months old, who perished with his mother. The unfortunate lady, it will be remembered, was 80 badly scalded that when she was taken to the Eastern Hotel she piteously entreated the by- standers to shoot her, so as to relieve her from her agony. When the explosion occurred she had her baby in her arms, and both tumbled head- long mto the — seething, burning — abyss, They were found lying at the bottom of the boat, near the botier. The mother’s forehead was pressed down by a crossbeam, wiich aruy crushed the skull. Across her extremities jay & horse still living, and she was completely hemmed in by @ barricade of whecis and broken timbers, which would have cut off escape even if the poor woman had strength eft. fer brother-in- law, Patrick Finlay, Who accompanied her, was badly burned, but his injuries are not fatal. Sho leaves behind her four children—two boys and two girls—the eldest of all not being over tive years of age. Her husband (Mr. Michael Finlay) 1s yet @ young man, and 1s, as may be readily 1maginea, in @ sem-distracted condition, He does not seem to realize the terrible calamity. Mrs. Finlay was @ native of Thurles, in the county of Tipperary, Ire- land, Her relatives in this country are all in Chicago. Funeral of Michael Kelly. The funeral of Michael Kelly, of Dock street, Brooklyn, took place yesterday. He was forty-two years old aud leaves a wife and four children totally unprovided for, He died on Weduesday, When taken out of the wreck of the ill-iated Westfleld it was found that he was very severely scalded. Un- willing to believe that his injuries were as se- vere ag they ultimately proved he made tho attempt to walk as far as Wall street ferry, the nearest way to his home. When he arrived there he sank exhausted, and was taken into the ferry house and cared for. He asked for water, A lady who, having a baby with her, for whom she had provided a bottie of milk, immediately offered it to the sufferer, who, after taking it, expressed much gratidcation. Twogentlemen who were in the ferry house volunteered to see Kelly to his home. Thelr kindness was nd gong but the poor feliow has not lived to thank them, ‘ TRE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION, The investigation by the Board of Inspectors into the causes of the late disastrous accident to tho Westfield was continued yesterday at the office o! the United States Board of Inspectors, 1n Pine street, before Inspectors Boole and Hill, Julius Raynor, a passenger on the Westfeld, testified that Just before the explosion he looked into tne engine room to hem starl,.and that the engineer was not 1 e was standing by the engine room some time, and he was sure that during that period the engineer did not put in an appearance, Henry Robinson, the engineer of the Westfield, was next put cn the stand, ‘He fs. a mulatto, with black curly bair and &@ preity Intelligent cast of features, He conducted himself during the investigation, with great self-possession except to- ward the clove, when the “posers” propounded by his oxa- miners, and the annoyance to his friends he saw bad been by them, the sufferers are GESTING ALONG QUITE COMFORTABLY, Bome Catholic clergy and the Sisters have been at she hospital daily, and a few Protestant ministers have also been in attendance and administered such ‘Spiritual consolation as they could acceptably under she circumstances. The Rev. Mr. Van Rosebrook, ‘who was verya-siduously going through the wards on Monday ana Tuesday, and who binseif informed the HERALD reporter that he was chaplain of the hosp1- Sal, 1tappears is not, as no such official 1s recognized 9 provided for at that institution, He was particu. far to repeat several times that he was an Episcopa- Man, and to remark that he had not seen any other ymen present, And holding the position which claimed to hold it was presamed he would see or Miroduced to any other clergymen who might We visited the Insutution, This reverend gentle Was Dot seen around the hospital yesterday, IN THE FEMALE PAVILION Emilia Grennette and Mrs. Henrietta Holve- Mlonly remain of the Westfield’s victims. They ‘were in alittle betier condition yesterday, but stiil very weak. IN THE MALE PAVILION ohn Daly, Otto Grennetie and Edward Roddy re- in. Daly is the worst case in ths ward, but be- a strong, able-bodied man, he Will probably re- = a change for the better having taken p.ace !n 8) ymptoms. He feit much easier but greatly ex- ted yesterday. The others are geiting along iy. IN WARD 5 Matt. O'Brien and Charies Kochendorf, the only . Their friends were in atvendance. IN WARD 10 Martin Reder lies very low—indeed there are very r hopes of his recovery. Yesterday he was in & h fever and breathed heavily. His mother and wo female iriends were doing ait they could to cool fevered brain and to keep him as easy and com- bie as possible, Mr. Reder is a larze, heavy man -two years old, and has been very badly burne: bout the head, the entize scalp Of which seems kely to peeiom. Even if be Goes survive he will be @ wreck during the rest of his daya. Mrs. Watcon @ivides her aitention between her husbaud, Jonna, ud her brother, Josept Myring, in this ward. They ere greatly improved yesterday, but Mr, Watson it completely exhausted after his fever of the day revious. Micbael Barrett, also in this ward, feit iter yesterday, but somewhat stid from lying in sate position se long. IN WARD 13 John Roberts, Henry rms and Patrick Roady were doing well. Sivorms was in a fever aud weak, ut In jess pain. Roddy was Loperul of being abie $0 go out in a few days. IN WARD 11. John Brown, the only remaining victim In this Ward, Was improving, but anxious to be able to sit Eh Hie is prevented from doing so by the surgical Er remaining patients, were very much better yes Ixtures whlch lave been placed on bis broxen t bone and ribs to keep them in proper posi- jou. He felt tired of being in the one position so mg, but, being a mal Of etrong constiiuuon, he Selt well ovherwise. IN WARD 16 ty Manly 1s now tne only remaining euftrer. fe was gréatly improved yesterday, though badly figured about the face.” His brother aud female nds were attending him. Jounm O'Malley was firme! Tecovered yesterday to be able to go to bome in Jay street, Brookiyn, in a carriage in coo Charles Silva, in this ward, ig lu proving rapidly. IN WARD 28 ttie Higgins and Mary Murphy remain. Mattle’s juries are internal and a dislocated shoulder, but ye Was quite smart yesterday and was attended by ends. Mary Was aiso improved, but required fimulants to enable her to rest. Her iwjuries are ry severe, but uot necessarily satal. . Ejssasser and Mr. Quch, pavilion patients, jon} 80 far recovered as 10 be abie to go howe yes- lay. IN THE DEAD HOUSE She bodies of Helena or Amelta O'Connor, August Grevelic and another labeiled Join Delatour awalt moval by friends, The firsi-named, it is believed, 8 NO One here to claim her. There is some confu- n of names or fog 4 in the last-named case, jon Delatour, of 65 Hester street, was one of the ngers pushed off the Second avenue car the er Gay by rowdies and injured, and the hospital ks Show that he was taken home alive by friends hotin aby immediate danger of death. There also some mistake in regard to the death of James ens. Botore Ginner time yesterday the indefatigable ‘Warden Brennan had made iro tours of the spl. | visiting every man and answering the calls of patients, bearing their complaints, grantip @iving directions to nurses and orderiies an’ ributing hetting and such other articles as he med were necessary for the comfort of his suffer. constituency. But what seemed to be appre more than ali were the pleasant words ana les which hedropped as he passed along, and hich served, at least momentarily, to divert the ts’ atteltion rom their suderings and inju- Yesterday Danie) and Cornelins Hogan, two more ms Of the explosion, who were adie to gain ur home, 68 Catharine street, on Sunday, and ve been under treatment there, were removed to Park Hospital, neir injuries proving more se- rious (ban was at first supposed. Henry Smitiers, of Commerce etreet, Newark, had his wounds sed the Park Hospital and was atterwards to reach his home, His pame las not appeared any list of the Wounded. One of his legs and 4 po sdagy parned, snd us Torehead SF, with pure } es 118 wounded and ninety-thive Mead, 80 far as can ve ascertained. 4 ADDITIONAL DKATH, Timothy Buckley, who was severely scalded by the explosion on board the W. ete, died at the tre Street Hospital yesterday. y fran ee Y- He resided at 47 MORE OF THE WOUNDED, Among those whose injury by the Westneia caused’ by bis answers, somewhat disconcerted him. The examination was as follows Q. How old are you? A. Neariy forty. Q. How long bave you been an engineer on a steamboat? vO Dufing that. time wit boats b , During that time what ‘boats have you been em, ont * Thad ‘chat frat. of the Wyoming. i re ). Jn what business is she The Bi ett ferry the Central Raliroad of New Jersey. ent Q. Have you ever had charge of boat other than a forry- boat? A. Yes, sir; on excursions. wd ghen but have you ever run any but a ferryboat? A, 0, air. |. Have you ever had a licente from the United States In- spectore, Ae Yea, sity I have bed theme mean . How long since you first had them? A, I got them first in Mr, Renwick # time, (A license was then produced, dated July 31, 1859), eit firs: licenge ? A. No, sir; Y think ft is the ourth, Q. Were you the engineer on the steamer Westfeld at the time of tue explosion A. Yes, sir. Q. Tell bout it. A. Tleft Staten Island at baif-past twel K, about it. » Tle! aten Island at half-past twelve o’cloc! touching at Quarantine, and leaving there with four Cocke ot Water; we came into New York and the engine bell rang to down? Teame ont and put the hose on the tanks; Theldon to that a few minutes to keep it from jumplug out; I then stepped on the bridge and walked round; 1 them turned back to the engine room, and looked and saw that the gauge was at twenty pounds ‘and blowing {nto the tank; I went out for- war‘ and cane back again; the firemxn came out and shut Of the water: I then stayed by the boiler, just about tive feet from the engine roo ‘atrick Finlay passed me going in; I @id not speak to him ;'I entered the fireroom and met Bim on the steps, and I eaid, “Pat, how is the water He repied, “All right; id, “We are all right for the Right then! nreauia that we would not have to a ‘over to ket water in the tanks, us we would bave plenty; {met the other fireman as I entered the fireroom an! he tried the cocks; there were three cocks then; 1 turned round—— Q. How much did the cocks show? A. There were three solid cocks of water; I then turned round to the engine room ; putting my hand on the engine room door and looking in, saw there were twenty-seven pounds of steam. Q. How long was tbat aiter you saw twenty pounds. A, The twenty poun as when we came in; we lay at the dock about tweny-five minutes, Q. And during that twenty-fve minutes the steam went up from twenty to twenty-seven pounds? A. Yes, but it did not fuseany more for some tune; I wap rtanding by looking at it; I went out to the front of the engine room ana walked ng to go forward towards the duck; I saw the c standing with his hand on the wheel and turned back, ext thought boat had ran mito us; there was just A SLIGHT NOISR. Q- How far were you from the engine room during this Jast time’ A. Ten or fifteen feet beard the repor looked down the gangway and saw a smoke; I jumpe the engine room door; there was a puff of steam; I jumped be tap and pulled it open; I wae going to juxip down eto see what wasthe maticr when the fireman came Tunntog up. é Q. Bork of them? A. One only; the other was siiting at the combing 0! the Lreroom door. @. You ba-e not seen him since? A. No; he hasdied, Q. The other fireman who came up, Was be injured? A. Yes, ir; a iittie bit. Q) How long a time was it after you noticed twenty-seven pounds on the gauge and went forward and came Lack until the explosion oc red? A. Jt was ebout four minates, Q. You ure sure you were not goue more than that 2A. T wae right around there ail the time; I was not four minutes out of the fire room, Q. Did you notice the s'eam gauge after the time you saw twerly-seven pgunds of s.cam ft Yee, when I walked forwirt; Isaw it then, Just walked away’ etd came right back | J was not gone # minute and w bail. Q When you to LEFT Thr ENGINE ROOM ent forward you were only away a minnte and a half? A. Yee, air, Q. How far did you get back ? A. To within ten or fifteen feet of the en OW. Q. What sort of wsteam gauge was that? A. I forget the man’s wane, YQ, Do you know whether the steam gauge was correct ? A.i do riot know. When you kid no steam on your boiler where did the but don your gauge Y A. Sometimes it stood at two wands and sometines it was down to zero, Y. How did the pipe run that led the steam down from the boiler? A. itran down directly trom the gauge. @. Where did ihe steam that operated the gauge come From the steam pipe, Was that above or below the gauge? A. Below it Mer the deck. Q. Did you ever notice the gange to hesitate, to stick at thing ip moving, or to go down in guaden jerks from ono figure to another ? A. } think it did. @ Do you know that? A. 1 NEVER NOTIORD jf particularly, but it never bad to be hit; it never was jucbed. Q. Did you notice the condition of the water in the boiler previous io leaving Staten Isiand? A, Yes, sir, . How was it? A. I found four solid cvcks, Did you use your feed pump during your trip? A, 1 from Vandertult landing to Quarantine. What stenim did you work In going across? A. From twenty pounds to twenty-two poun . Kot over twenty-two pounds? A. No, alr, . What steam were you allowed to work by the inspec- tor's certitic ‘The satety vaive was at twenty-seven ounds ; twenty-five pounds is the certificate, but the iuspece jor allowed ine two More pounds. 4. What do you understand was the reason for allowing th ess of the certiticate todtcate ure? A. J suppose Decause the gauge was two pounds wroo ‘g. In what condition was the water in the boller at the time of Whe explosion? A. Suet siMMERrxa, Were the furnace doors shut? A. No, sir; wide open, What kind of freshad you! A, Dark . Did you try to relieve the boiler when you saw you had twenty-seven pounds? A. It was blowing olf into tha tanks; 1 seldom knew it to go over that, Q. But did you attempt to redeve it? A, I did by the tank valve, Q. How big was that Pipe? A. About two inches, |. And it was open ? A. Yeu, sir. . And biowing into the tank atthe time? A, Yo, wir. Q. You are sure it was blowing into the tank at the ume of the explosion 7k. Yen wr, Q. Did that take off ali the surplus steam over twenty-seven pounds? A. Always, sir, Q. Did iton that occasion? A. I suppose not; I do not and know. . The aafety valve was still blowing? A. Yes, air. & Beunes the’ ipes of the tank being open YA. Yes, str &. Do you know the condition of the water whe rived ip New York? A. Yes, tir od) dh A. Steam and water on the Q. How much did you ba toarth cock, Q. What sort of arrangement bad you for teeding the bolier? A. Force pumps and donkey engines, yay Were the force puimpa attached Wo the main engiae? A. ee, sir. Q. Did you bave a donkey pump? A, Yea, air; it was con- nected with the feed pipe, #0 that we could che eliber Q. Did you notice WOW HOT THE WATER war in the tank? A, No, air, y. Did you ever notice that? A. Yer, sir, sometimes, by How bot did you get the water? A. Sometimes boiling, Did you have aby dificully fn using such water ii wedsing it into the botiert A. No, sir. x4 os Q. The pumps would always work with boiling water in the tank? A. Yes, air. | Are the tanks or the pump the highest? A. The pump is highest; the pump is about bait way up the tanks, O.Dit you ever bave any dificulty in working the pur in taking out water from the tanks!” A. Very aelcom. Gy Did'you ever have occasion to, use the aafety valve 7 ‘A. Not often; when are sure of water in the tanks we e the eafety valve. Otherwise you bad no peeasion to use it? A. Not un- explosion has not yet been reported were Mr. Frederick Leming and wife, of West Ho- Donen. These, with their son, had started out % visit & married daughter ving on Staten were very bot; It 60 we used it, safely valve rulse Jlseif without any assistance ? . Did you ever know it to need assistance 7 1 Slways Falued Iiselts iii gd & And cloned? A, Yes; afler the boiler 19 relieved, > NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1871. Q. Were you present when the boiler was inspected? A. G. Where were you at that me? A. At Btaten Island in the other boat. G, Then, 708 changed from one boat to another as coeasion + A. Yes, sir, |. Previous to the Inst 1 ion had anything been done tothe boiler to your knowledge? A. Yen, og What? A. New legs put oo and the water bottom taken son Saga Re aeTT TL) wc inom ee ions eo we Old you catty, day of the explosion. - Q. How many times in your experience on this boat have you seen the steam above twenty-seven pounds? A. Not Q. How many times within the last year or two? A. Tcan- not say exactly. . "But how many? A. Not often. 9 How meh shore is? A. have seen it at twen! Q, Where was the boat at ‘On her passa; AOOWheuwar it? A, A little time ago, Within a year?” 4. Yes; inside of @ year, . Since you bave bad the repairg you have seen it at twenty-nine pounds now many times? “A. Icannot say how mauy times; I have seen it once in.» while—not often, ‘Q. Did you never on any occasion SEE IT AUOVE TWENTY-NINE POUNDS ? A. Ido not know that I have; I cannot roully say whether Ihave seen it higher; there have been times when it was above twenty-nine pounds when the gauge was wrong. (Q. How did you know that the gauge was wrong? A. I knew it by the safety ralve, Q.Andwas that the oniy way you had? A. 1 generally went by the safely ¥: @, In'your ea‘ely valve graduated om the level with figures #0 that you can tell what pressure you have? A. No, sir. 0 you know how to get @ safety valve? A. Tact it by uge, in case anything should happen to the gauge. ‘anything should happen to the FauRe you would de- ‘ety valve in that way? A. Yeu, ‘was wrong when it was above twen- ou do with the ga A. Thad tt altered, & Where aid'you send it tote altered?” A.f'dc net tocar; the captain took it moe § a Sai ben Wecame back did it agree with the safety valve ? . Yes sir. . Do you know how to measnre a safety valve to ascer- talk the precwure OF henin without ihe aid'of Was putget k. Not uniess I set it with the gauge, Q. You have no other means of GETTING THE SAFETY VALYR might; but suppose you had mo cauge and wanted to carry twenty-five pounds of steam by the valve. A. Iam NO BOURNTIFIO MA Q. Never mind thai: but would you be able, to tell any. thing about the pressure of steam by the safety valve it It had not been previously graduated by some one who did Know, and the graduations left in figures? A. I go by the fr SauTSS..t euppoaing thére ware no ‘figures? A. T would mes- sure it and get some one to cipher it out for me, g But you do not pretend to know yourseit? A. No, air. ino Feu Know how large the safely valve is?” A. Vive nclies, Se, Do you know how many square inches that would be? A, No, Did you ever see a meroury gauze? A. Yes, air, 3G; bi you ever ran with them? “A, Yes, sir; on ihe Rea jacket. . Did you have any other gauge on the Red Jacket similar tothat on the Wertiela? “Aven, alr. . Did the two agree? A. Yes, sir. . Do you know ‘THE DIFFERENCR between the Weetfeld and one of our tugboat in the harbor ? A, One is a sidewheel and the other is a vaddiewheel, {Any other ditference? A, In one the stcam is cut off; it ium high pressure. ne AnY,oiher dfcrence? A, The bigh pressure boat has a ue valve, Q. Do you know the difference between a high pressure and. alow pressure engine? A. One 18 @ high pressure andthe other {s a low pressure. Q. But can you explain the difference? A. (After long and mature delibcration)—1 cannot explain it exactly, @. Do sou know how much steam they use on high pres- sure boats inthe harbor? A. I have never been on them very often; some use seventy-five pounds, some one hundred pounds, some fifty pounds. Q. ‘Then you thins the difference between ‘and a low presstire boat is {n the amount of sir; one is condensed and the otber is not. LIS IDEA OF STEAM POWES, Q. Explain, ax well ns. yon can, how the engine onone of your boats worka? A. The team comes from the bolier when { to work; the steam valve raises and takes away the the condenser; the water condenses the team, and the air pump carries tho water condensed from the steam, ,Q,, Where does that water come from? A. From the river, Q. How do youget it? A. The valve on the side of the boat. Q. How does It condense? A. It comes in by the pipe; it enters the condenser eam passes In, it meets this water, forms a yactiuin; tho water strikes it and kills it; the Air pump takes the water off and throwsit overboard through e staxiding pipe. Do rs say the water kills the steam and makes « Yacuum ? Waere does it make the vacuum? A. Inthe con- jenser. Q. And what has that to do with the engine? What effect hasit on it? A. It gives the engine the power. Q. How does it give it power? A. By taking off the ex- hatist steam and clearing the engines. Q. You speak of the condenser as forming @ vacuum; what do you mean by a vacuum? A. Foul alr, ‘. Can you make a vacuum in any other way than this de- scribed? “A. Yes, sir. Q. How? A, Ihave seen a piece of leather make one and suck a stone. Q. What do you understand by that illustration? A. The piece of leather forms the vacuum, . But what makes {t stick to the stone? A. The wet. . Is there any other element of power which makes it stick to the stone? A. I don’t know that there is, Q. Can you give me any further explanation of @ vacuum? A. You can take a pipe and put it to your mouth and make,» vacuum that way: it will hold to your lip digh pressure am? “A, Yes, Q. And what makes it boldy A. The suction drawing from inside, @. That ts the highest {dea you have of @ vacuum? A. Yes, sir. Supposing there was a hole in your condenser open to tnt airy would the engine perform properly! A. No, a. Q. Why not? A, Becanse it gets the air. Q. What would make the alr go inv the condenser? A. The suction. . Have you any idea how much air welghs? A. No, air. . Do you know whether {t presses with any force upon objects on tho earth? A. Yes, air. . Do you know how much ? | A. No, $ Suppoee you ebould be in the engine room and find the WATER NOT STILL AND QUIET 4n the boiler what would be the conseqiience sf you allowed ft to come over freely? A. It would burst the boiler top, 'Q. How would you stop It from coming over? A. I would shut off the steam. Q. That would be the first thing? A. Yes, sir; to seo how much water I had, AS ouwould shit off the steam to let the water settio? . You, sir. ‘Q. What would make the boiler foam in this way? A. The water being dirty; the boller dirty; the eugine caused it to foam sometimes, . How A, The engine raises tt up. Before the explosion did you work the engine? A No, And it had not been worked? A. No, si hs Do you know that? A. Yes, sir. &. Were you near enough to the engine to see if any one worked it? A. They always call on me first, xQ Younever aliowed the hands to work ihe engine? A, O- @, Did you ever have any expertence in machine shop? Fs Uid you work as a fireman before you became engi- neer? A. Yes, sir. Q. How long have you beenon @ steamboat? A. Since ‘l—twenty years. Q. How long have you been engincer? A. Fifteen years; I ran an engine bevore, but never had charge. @. Did you ever meet with any accidents before Ne, nly crauk yin Wrong, or something like that, Q. Sulce this bolier was repaired last fal! have you NOTICED ANY LEAKS about ft anywhere ¥ A. No, sir. Q. Are you in the habit of looking around the boiler when the sieam is on? A. Yes, str, Q. And you never noticed any leaks sfdce the repairing ? A iF; only just around the calking, . Did you send for the bolier maker? A. No, sir; he had done it when the legs were put in. Q. There were some patches ou the boiler? A. There were two. Q: Where were those patches? A. One on the binder part of it. In that anywhero near where the boiler is set in the saddie? A. Yes, sir. . Close to tt?” A. Yea, y. Do you kuow it there was any defect in that part of the bolier which rested upon the saddie? A. 1 do not tuiuk there was ; there did not look to be, Q. Was the BOILER BEDDED in there? A. Yes, sir; in patty. And this one patch was nest to the saddle? A. It came night around the saddle, {. Did it come above the saddlo or on one side of it/ A. Some of it was uncer the saddle. Q. When was that puton? A, Last fall. @. Where was the other patch? A. Underneath the back part of the firebox, . How far from the firebox? A. Next to it. . How large a patch was itf A. About two feet long, Did you lise your dunkey pumps for feeding? A. Not mich, Q. Was ft used at all that day? A. Not in my torn, Q) Was there any other engineer besides you? Yes; I onuse ot st wale 6 Es cals tee aia “A ). And you bad no occasio jonkey pump while you were tow? A. No. 1g Was tfe boat on an even keel all that day? A. Yes, air, sire Q. Was there any careening of the boat previous to the ex- plostouY A. No, sir. Q, 1a trying your water you were certaln your gause cocks were inorder? A, Yes, sir, Q. And you believe ‘THE STEAM GAUOR was tn order? A, No, sir; Idon't know about that; I was not on tue boat when it was tested, . How long since It was tested ?_ A. I do not know. ,, Was it not tested when the new legs were put on fall? A. I think it was; T think T took it off, r ‘he witness was then examined at considerable length b Inapector Boole in regard to. how, he emploved nfinsett during the time the boat was atthe dock, and how long he was away from the engine room. The witness adhered to bis drat statement, Inspector Till continued as follows !— Q, Just give me your idea of what cansed the explosion ? ‘ i cannot do it; my idea is the weakness of the top of the oiler, You did not expect anything of this kind? A. No, sir; this boller waa my favorite on the thres boats; we thought it such a good boiler we took the best care of it; 1 was our PRE BOWLER, Q, Have you any idea of the pressure that was on that boiler with twenty-seven pounds of steam? A, ir, Y. Did you ever find the water low in this bouler while you were lying at the dock? A. No, sir; I never knew it tobe #0, Did you ever at any time on other boats find the water in the boiler when it was time to start ? Was always very G. Suppose the water was low in the boller and you had occasion to start the engine; what would youda? A. 1 would it her lay tl sue cooied down, | . You would not get any water into the boilers that wa wouldyou? A. No, air; I would let things deaden down we Gon mag steam 4 need to keep the Wi |. How mucl 0 you 0 going? A. About uve pounda, abbas irige ase wo Sot you move her with ters than three pounds? Ay 0, sir, oi: Where wos the mavbole in the boller? A. On the ©: On the contra of th the end of the chimney; ‘Q. Have you any idea : Pris RST OOMMENOFD tn the boiler? A, Ttnink in the’ manhole plate; the shoet of the manhole plate, Q. On which side? A. On the let} band side of the boiler - gtr age of it, ke th x What ro ou think the break commenced th Acitvooky aa itt Matted there. eyed Q. Did you ever see any indication oF leaking there? A. No, air; there was no sign of It. G Did you bear any unusual pound abois any part of tno boiler just previous to the explosion—a biss.ng sound? A, No, air, not while I was down there, Asa hel after you came on deck ana looked.at the gauge? No, ir Q. Why was the patch next to the legs put on? UA. Because it was a weak spot, be Q. Did you ever havea \ DIFAOULTY WITH YOUR FIREMEN? Always bad & pleasant understanding? A. Yes, siz> | Did you trust them to give you the belgbt of water! A. No, sir, 1 (rusted no man for that. G. BUt on the passage you cannot sce the water frem where you are? No, sir. @ And you don’t leave the engine zoom, then, do yen? vop or alittle ono ide? A, ont four feet from ike! A+ At f where the 44, No. str, not ranch; only for « misrate or #0 to of} the mar Pi,Ad who do 30a leave tn your place? A. Patrick means, have they of communicating with you from the Grerocm poatively whether: tue water was foaming : oattively wi on bok ne jn balks ust Before the explosion?” A. Tt was Bot. Q. Were you in the habit of li’ting. the safety valve? 4.1 it yt too hot In the tan! CEM Uotasert ir a we blow off every night. does it? A. The engineer. . Were you on that boat my ight before? A. No, sir. ely tft = alee bien iat Kind of coal d you use in the furnace? A, Soft 'Q. How does that engine make steam when lying in dock; does she make it rs pants on moms? A, Not rapidly, unl ree are very strong. Q. hutwhen you dead fire, as on this occasion, how doos she make it? A. Very slowly. ‘Toon at the time she was lying there at the dock she was not making steam rapidly? A. ‘Yes, sir; that 18 80. one uare oe about all your gauge cocks being in fern that day? A. Yes, alr, ? Q. You said, I think, that the safety valye was Llowing when the gauze was at twenty-five and also at twenty-seven pounds, and that you bad sometimes seen the steam at Prentycnine poun is; at such times did. the safely valve blow about the same as at twenty- or attwenty-seven! A. No, sir; because we raised it ourselves, Would the steam increase to twenty-nine when the salige stood at twenty: 7A. Yes; eir; Mt would increase aster than the sate:y valve could carry it away, a0 that the yreasure would run ip to twenty-nine. be Q. What was your practice about that? A. Raising the valve, Q. You felt justified in running up to twenty-seven pounds? ‘A. Yes, sir. ‘Q. Did you ever ri ? Frog our ORRTIFICATR of inspection Yes, sir, a ‘Bo you know how it reads about carrying tteam? A. ‘That you mnat not carry more steam than you are allowed; i don't remember; it ig such a long time, 2. Supposing you should go op another boat, how would you ascertainshow. mich steam you could Work? “A. I would look at the inspector's certiicate, Here the Po one opencs large ledger of certificates and correspondence, and #atd: Q. You read, don’t your, A. (Witness confused, as be had Just said that he had read certilioate.”") No, sir; I read print a little, but not writing. You don’t read Ae A, No, air, You read prinung? A. Very little. }.. How, then, can you ascertain from your certificate how mitch you can carry YA. I would ascertain from some one else. Do you read figures? A. Yes, sir. ). (Reading the certiticate)—"A maximum of twenty-five pounas,” you know WHAT A MAXIMUM means? A. No, I never heard the word before. Weill, it means greatest, aud it is in yourcertifieate; there sny objection made by oilicers of the boat about soe the steam to escape on accountofthenolsc? A. No, sir. Q. You are sure that you have never been told not to shut down your valve on account of the steam frightening pas- sengers? A. No, sir; we have MEAD ORDERS not to let the steam rise to make it b.ow. Q. When y valve waa blowing at twenty-seven pounds were you not aware that you bad two pounds more than the certificate allowed? ‘A. I always understood the inspector allowed two pounds more for biowing off; I thought it was all right, Q. When diayou ever get an order from the inspector allowing youtwo pounds more than the certificate? A. Wheo the patent satets valves were put In. Q. And it seems, then, to be your custom to let the steam run up to twenty-six pounds or twenty-seven pounds? A. Twenty-fve pounds of twenty-six pounds, and’ we always blow off when we get there. .” You say you have recctved orders not to let the steam ise 80 as to necessitate biowing of —did this make you feel bny hesitation about raising your valve? A. No, sir. 3 You felt free to do it? A. Yes, sir. . You would do it under any circumstances? A. Yes, sir, |. Suppose you had orders not to blow off steam, would you have any heaitation in doing so? A. I would go up to ibe Superintendent, it he was on board, aad tel! bim that £ was going to blow off. Q. Andif be was not on board? A. 1 would then raise it ae A GOVERNMENT EXPERT'S EVIDENCE, William A. Lighthall being dwy sworn said:—I ‘am an en- incor and have been following the profession since 1825; 1 Fave followed the nteamers on the river for tweuty-live years, guperiotending and running them, and am now engaged in manufacturing machtuery, OOADITION OF THE BOILER AND FURNAOR, Mr. HILt—Have you examined the steamer Westfield since the explosion? A. \es, by order of the Inspector of Boilers; I went on ponrd yester‘ay and saw and examined the ves: ‘tel, boiler, engine, savety vaive and all that my attention had beén drawn to; T examined the boiler rigidly; L saw the great rent that was made, and I belleve I wuderstand where it commenced; as the boat lies with her bow toward the city of New York, as near as 1 can judge it must have been on the port aii hat it originated, haif way beyond the port boiler flue; so far as my knowledge extends and from what 1 discovered I believe it WAS BROKEN INSIDE FIRST if, for a length of about eighteen inches; it looks to me asif it bad been broken for some time; ft did not carry itse'f turough the sheet; there is at ieast one-sixteenth of an inch of new iron outside; ths iron, from what I saw, was verv food; ihe rent eatended Joagitudinally about four feet. (Here the witness went onto show by means of a sheet of aper in what renee the piece of the tolier fell, and ilus- g that, with the exception of about eighteen inches oes the top section of the rept, the iron composing the sheil of the boiler was one-quarter of an inch thick ani of 001 quality of tron. ‘The section inensuring about eigh:cen jnches was held together by ouly about one sixteenth of an inch of iron, showing that three-s.xteentns had been eaten ‘away by corrosion or worn away.) * WHERE THE RENT COMMENCED, Q. Did you examine the other portions, A, Yes; astotne furnaces, steam chimney and arches; if they were put to- gether they would be atrong enough ‘to peur sixty pounds pressure; tue arches and steam chimneys inside are as good bow asever nd were with the exception of a flaw in one of the flues on the starboard side, for which I could not ac- count; I examined the safety valve and I found it stood sa- perticially for about twenty-seven pounds; the main safety valve was in a shocking condition, subject, as it then stood, to carry sixty pounds before it would biow olf; it stuck too close and was sct altogether in an unworkmaulike manner, to my idea as an engineer. Q. You want to make a atatement? A. There was 7m down at the place indicated, and I want to state that the rap- ture commenced at that seam; all the iron that it seemed to have to bold it for a foot anda half dia not exceed one six- teenth part of an inch; it was bere that itdid give out, so far us my knowledge extends; I believe at the time there was PLENTY OF WATER IN THE BOILER; thore was every indication of that fact; the iron was only ove-rixteenth of an inch thick where tne fracture was; the fron fn the transverse section of the rupture was as goud as it was original, Q. How much strain will such iron bear—what {s the ten- selstrain? A. Well, really, I can't tell what that iron will bear. Q. Well, admitting it was now, bow much then? A. It would bear about sixty pounds, Q. Don't you know how mach fron will bear to the square nch? A. {have known some ten feet shells to stand t pressure (sixty pounds) many hundred thnes with no thicker ron than that, Q. What do you suppose was the pressure, or what pres- sure would that boiler then have stood. MOR ANY OTNER FORCE — How much to the ood then—I have thought it over— aquare inch ? out forty pouuds. Q. Notwithstanding the crack In that inches long and three-quarters of the way across the face of {t, there being only one-sixteenth of an inch—do yon think then it would have stood forty pounds pressure? Would you have been willing to work forty pounds knowing it? A. No, sir, I would not do ft after I knew of the defect. . How much would you bave allowed! A, Twenty-Gve pounds, easly. Q. Would you have been willing to carry twenty-seven pou carry twenty-five pound: Q. Dut you said a minute ago ft would take twenty-five easliy? AL shect—eighteen WELI, I TAKE THAT BACK. . How much, t A. 1 would not allow more than eightecen pouncs, or twenty at the most, Q. After knowlng that and presuming that it would bear ouly that, and that ft bore at the least twenty-seven pounds without blowing off, are you surprised or otherwise that ft should have stood ‘that twenty-seven poumis? A. Yes, I am surprised; I should have thought 1 would have stood over thirty pounds pressure: I think @ new one of that shape should stand over thiriy-Ove pounds. Q. How much more? A. Well, I don’t think {t would have stood a great deal more. 9. What you have ead pr infer u vious being the case, you ere would bave been no danger from having the thirty-four day it blew up? A. Ido not beheve there neds, PFom What you state I infer you fear there might have ry MORE PRESSURE THAN TWENTY-SEVEN POUNDS atthetimer a. I do, Q. Why, from the test!mony taken it appears there was How do you account for that ow do yon account for te gauge indicating and the valve not biowlog? A. I believe the safety gauge was oxdized around the stem; it was oxydized and not set in a proper manner as { should have done it as @ practical man} secondly, the gauge was in that condition that its attach: ‘ments were not free to work ; the pipes were piaced in such a manner, running through near the steam, which was very liable to disorder or injure it, 'Q. Would that or any such course have a tendeney to the cauge out of order? A. I may state that twice in my iife, dure twenty years, 1 had safety valyes that became orydized and came ‘VERY NFAR GIVING ME A “OTST? (blowing up); do not see why other peopl ° ich things occur; I had any accitenis; all lever wanted was & good i lame ge and a d slop gauge cock; y-five years, fo never met ‘with any accident, '. Did the boiler give any indication of the water having Deen low? A, Not atall; if the furnaces and arches wero now puttogether I would vonture sixty pounds on them, A FLAW IN ONE OF TRE FLU Q. You spoke of # Maw in one of the flues? A. That was down by the set saddle; I examined the saddie myself, erpecially the tron, and found it as good as ever, r, BOOLE—You say you examined the boiler personally; did you notice whether the furnaces were in their proper form or whether there had been any indications of a settling? A. They were in perfect form, and apparently as good a8 ever, exeept where it was torn away; I think it 1s good fron, but i do not know now what strain it would bear; the inspectors should try a piece, ould you not get an idea of something lke the strain of that boller should be subjected to, agsdaring ayed? A. I will take something else; in a forty-two shell you could carry 200 pounds of éteara with the same material. a Y. Could you give us no idea of wns the she 1 property nc THR TENSILE BTRA(N 17 BHOULD HAVE ReSIETED? Should It be 20,000 pounds to the square inch foot? A. Tune derstand thi ve 80,000 pounds ; 64,000 pounds 1 the maximum, 60 that 20,000 would seem to be very smail; in maxing a calculation of the strain iron will bear in boilers it is enough to scare aman when he sees the Ogures showing the immense pressure to be put upon it, ‘Q You said that she pressure upon aboller would be ENOUGH TO S0ABi MAN, Do you mean it would be unusually large? ‘A. To any man who will calculate it it will be surprising; when { vel! you that the pressure on a small locomotive in Jersey City would be sulliclont to raise thie whole eatablisbment you, may form some iden of it. (This witness here explained the different ways in which an explosion might occur, It might be from Over pressure or from a iack of water in the boiler, He did not believe in the theory that low water geuerated gas. The force of steam alone could cause the explosion, No gas, electri: city of aay combination of materials could produce it. A barrel containing ae gallons of water would increase ten thousand times in oulk in a few hours, ) 'Q. There isa good dealin the supervision is there not? A. There is more likelihood that the expiosion was (row over pressure tan from scarcity of water, THE FERRY SUPERINTENDENT. After the recess James W, Brainted, the Suporintendent of the Staten Island ferry, was d Orn und testitied as follows :— Mr. Hint-—What ts the uF connection with the company, Mr. sisted ¥ tendent, '@. Were you on the dock at the time of the accident? A, Koj 1 was on the Northfield, bound up; I think we were elow Governor's Island about two miles. ‘Did you hear or see anything to indicate the blowing ‘A. We could see white smoke, bat we didn’t hear any- hen you arrived at the landing did you, come on Sie? a. We fanded right at ihe end of the pier thas forms e passengers! landing staxe, and our bow up along the Weaticld's gaurd, 40 as to wenge to get the wounded and disabled people on the pier by our boat; our boat formed a bridge, Q. Hate pow what you know about the accident and what you did, A. We did at the «me as much as we could. BOOLE-—Give us an mach as would be necessary to form a general idea. Your kno Wiedge of the accident, WRAT AE GAW a Witweee—] want to give wil the |.cht] can, as J bove @ugry- is on the boiler? A. No; uot after I kuew, I would not Soca do the boats and hire all the that esi, aoe andie a hea eleven years of age—with the exce) ar Saree years old. ine Incted altogether under the orders of the Po- mt aad tne Sblef Engineer of the Fite Depart. er the explosion, under those men; we works ‘nd never took our boat out uniil we got oF Chief of the Fire Department; we stayed on 1 ‘the boat was in ‘charge and did all we could to get the wounded, and rendered all the assistance in 3 the Fire Department engineer toid us not to take 0 You a are superintendent of the ferry ana hire ail the malo 5 did You birg the oo.ored engineer, Henry pingont ‘A. Yeu sir. Q. Where did he come from? A. Qstetnaliy trom Pough- Keepaie, but he was with me on the steainer Columbus long Q. ae your company a charter fora ferry? A. I think Is it not owned by an individual? A. No, it isa stock it; I think they ara incorporated, Q. Was the company which hud the ferry before incor- porated? Mad they reguiar landing places? "a. No. sir. @, You carry both passengers and ireight fA. Yes; we land endways in New York and sideways on Staten Isiand: by our license we can take carriages and horses, G. Do you Know any reason why the engineer left the Columbus? A. That was WHEN UF WAS A YOUNG LAD: that must hat filteen years ago; he went with me for was in the Wyoming with me five years T found he ‘@ bright, totelligent man that's How we make ali our men—irom the deck. What have been your observations as regards his cha racter? A, He attended to his duty, and the most trust. worthy man Lever did see; be wasthe musi reliable man I ever did see 1 my life, Q. You contidence in him as an engineer? A. Whore there {a anything to be relied on I always take this man. ndeliow many other engineers have you? A. Fiya in the 6 boats, rh ‘Do you carry more than one at atime? A. No, sirs WE HAVE FOUR OREWS; ‘one at one day and one at another work the boats, Q. How hoursaday? A. Krom five o'clock in the morning they keep charge until about a quarter to twelve o'clock at night; each boat carries two firemen; onrs is the only ferry where two firemen aro carried} we have no soant of inen, Q. Did you over give any spectal orders as to the AMOUNT OF STEAM 10 BE CARRIED? A. You; I have given all these engi structions; I have always told them; the year; I am responsible; on every occasion 1 hi to make them do right, and told them all to it twenty-one, twenty-two or twenty-three pounds; 1 always told them ‘10 BE ON THE GAFE 61D) and then you don’t run any risk; Ihave told them especially about the water, and tried it always before leaving. Q. Ever know any fireman to start without looking to his Wag A ft: understood you W say you gave orders avout this, ot this one, Q. LunJerstood yon to mean this one, A, There were none of them to exceed twenty-five pounds, . . Did you give these orders separately? A. Yea, 4 amount of steam is allowed to these pounds; I made that to have the: ‘hood of ten days, and thon p to hi said, “Whenever you are ready to inspect these boats we aro ready”—one at a time Jie a8 s00n as we gotone inspected ‘we gave notice of the other ; they come neariy together. Was anything said about the sinount of prossuro? | A. T told the engineer to tell Mr. Matthews that all the SERAM WE WANTED WAS TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS on all our boats except the Josephine, and for hur I told him to ask for forty pounds; she bas a new boiler and cylinder of forty inches ip diameter ani fourteen feet stroke; tho West- field's cylinder 1s hfteen inches and ten feet of stroke; the Josephine has hitherto been worked on an allowance of tntr- ty-two pounds; she {8 used as an excursion Coat, but is single or flat ended at one end, and can be used ay a ferryboat alko when necessary; the same engiueer who took the Weatficld up took the Josephine. ‘Q. Have you ever made any perzonal observations of the steam gauge 10 this boat Westticld to sce il it indicated a ressure exceeding that apecitied by the certificate? A. I avo seen it (rom five to twenty-seven; whenever I go to sea that boat, which is probably four or live times a she is running; IT BLOWS OFF AT TWENTY-SEVEN; both that gauze and the government safety valve, as a gene- Tal thing, blow off together. i Q. Who adjusted {ty A. Thomas Connolly, who was the man who weut up by the boat Westiicld to Brooklyn and assinted in the msvection; he to!d me he had set the weight Tight and assisted Mr. Matchews in tosting her, and whatever T. Matthews wished he did; Mr, Matthews ordered bim to shove out the weight, Q. And after that youknew he set the weight to, a proner gauge for steam? A. I only know that be shoved it bacl Where we always saw it before, and he had set the screw that contined the welzht to the lever. Q. Had he told you at what pressure he expected {t would be? 1 ASKED HIM HOW HK REGULATED 17, and ho sald by the steam gauge of the engine, Q. Was there any other than the engine gauge? A, No, r sir. Q. What did he do with regard to the safety value? A, Connolly told me that Mr, Matthews told him to take the cover off, or bonuet, 80 that he could get the pressure; I am going to'tell you what he said; he said Mr. Matthews told him to take the Lood off this and shove back the.weight on the lever of the government safety valve; 1 asked him how he knew how to set it, and he said, “I looked up and requ- lated it according to tat gauge.” . Q. Are you frequently in the engine room of this boat? A. Yeas Tau there, du the treman's room, in the hold; 1 am everywhere. Q. Did you ever ee the steam Gauge indicate a bigher pres. re than twenty-five pounds? A. Yes; Twenty-live, twen- six and twenty-seven pounds; that is the Mahest, Q. Do you kuow what the certincate gaye in Fegand to the pressure? A. Yes, twenty-five pounds; I have seen twenty- seven poundi Q. Auything more than than? A. Never recollect seeing more onthe gauze than that: as @ general tuing ft has not been that, for, you see, I donot iike too much steam; besides it is expensive. Q. You know what is a cold water pressure? A. 1 AM NO ENGINEER, ; Tnever pretended to be; I don't wantthem to carry any more steam than that. Q. As regards this ‘government safety valve, I think you sali it blows of sooner than ihe other? A. As a general thing the government valve goes off alittic ahead, Q. Under what circumstances do you allow 4t to be twenty- seven pounds? A, I don’t allow it; they beth blow at twen- tv-seven pounds, Q. It is not so with the safety valve—the masimum fe just when twenty-five? A. Yes, sir. ‘. What water do’ you use? A. We use Croton water} never ¢ Salt; we can't always get fresh water; tu the sum- mer season they cut ito; there are fresh water ponds on Staten Island, bul there are no means «mo pipes connecting) Of getting it to the boats, Has anything been done to that boiler since last fail ? A. jefore atie blew up WE WEE GOING TO LAY HER UP FOR REPAIRS; 1 asked Connolly if. there w: boiler, and he said ‘No, sir." anything to Le done to the ‘Q. When were those soft patches put on the boiler? A. T can't say whether they were put on when ber water boitom was cut off or whether they have been put on since. @. You said you have sometimes secn the pressure as high as twenty-seven pounds; on such occasions did you ever threaten to discharge them? A. I bave told them several to be arrested. Q. How does the engineer know what amount of pressure tobe kepton? i understand he ean neither read nor write, A. He has got that information from me; be can read tho figures; that 1 know; I have tried him and he seems to un- derstand them. WHAY HE KNOWS AnOUT ENGINERRE Mr. Vere you with Mr. Matthews when the boiler was No, air. Q. We should ike to have your tden as to the canse of the expiosion, A. That is not in the power of man to tell, 2. What do you pay your engineers? A. $89 and $95 0 month, Q. And the firemen ? A. $60 a month; Robinson gets $85 a month. Q. Do you not suppose the engineers think they know do? is it not A. Well, more about the engines and dotiers than probable? have you not been led to suppose so ? they always respect me. After various other rep deayored to find out if there had bee: any lager beer or Wi'skey on board she boat on Sunday last, but had felled to uy there, It now being (our o’clock it was agreed to adjourn | until ten o’clock to-day, When, with the permission of Marsiial Sharpe, the Commissioners will occupy the United States Circuit Court. COMMUNICATION FROM UNITED INSPECTOR LOW. STATES Acting Conjointly With the Coroner. Yesterday afternoon Coroner Keenan received the following communication from United States Super- vising Inspector Low in regard to the recent ex- plosion on board the Staten Island ferry boat West- field: — OFFI0# OF UNITED STATES SUPFRVISING INSPROTOR) OF STEAM ViESBELS, § D DISTRIOT, New \ork, August $1871, PATRICK H. Keenan, Eaq., Coroner, New Lore \Stu—I would reapectfally agk of the privilege of tak: Ing some of the “iron” of the Weatield’s bolier, for the purpose of having {ts tensile strength tested by “e: ” for the infor yn of the Inspectors conducting the present investigation, and for the satisfaction of the nublic. I like @ plece of the sheet at Police jeadquarters, and pleces from cther parts of th will appoint au expert to act with one you ma: I will take any other course agreeable to you. T 0 Mike to have the gauge” tested where i now js, and in ite condition, in the sane way or jointly of otherwise, hat we act conjolatty in this matter, that we may 11 ourselves of the information obtained, AD early respectfully solicited, vary respeciiully, ADDISON LOW, Supervising Inspector, Second district, On the receipt of the above communication Mr, Jonn T, Toal, Clerk to the Board of Coroners, called at the office of Mr. Low, 23 Fine street, on behalf ot Coroner Keenan, and stated that it was the desire of the Coroner to ald the United States authorities in the investigation of the case. Orders were accordingly given to permit Mr, Low or his repre. sentative to visit the boat for inspection, and to give him a piece of the boiler at Police Headquar- ters, as requested. THE CLERGY AT BELLEVUE. New York, Angust 2, 1871. To THe Epiror oF THe HERALD:— WEAR Sin—I notice in this morning's HERALD, In relation to the late sad accident of the Westfield, a statement by your reporter that there 1s a notice- able absence of Catholic priests from Bellevue Hos- pital, the only clergyman in attendance bemg a Protestant minister, incorrectly styled “the chap- lain.” This statement is all the more remarkable as your reporters have heretofore praised the untiring energy of the priests visiting the instivution. On Sunday las) Dr. McGlynn, Fathers McCready and Mooney, of St Stephen’s church, and Father Hervey, of Centre Street Hospital, were 1n atrend- ance Ull every Catholic sufferer in the hospital had been visited. Two of these genulemen remained Ul near midnight, Every aay in te year.one or two priests of St. Steplien’s visit Bellevue and spend hours there, though they nave also to attend to the wants of over tweuty-five thousand Catholics in their parish, JUSTICE, If “Justice” will read again what our reporter dia write on this subject he will find that Catholic priests are not singled out as omitting this duty, but, on the contrary, that “there nave been a few faith- ful men and women, Protestant and Cathollo, who have visited the patients from ward to ward and from bed to bed, administering such spiritual com- fort ag they might io the sufferers,’ But the presence of the four faithful clergymen whom ‘Justice’! names, while known to the reporter, can hardly be consilered a3 @ suflicient refutation of the statement that "bbe absence of clergymen and OlsisiauR Tes from the nh 18. atgatficant,' 0 re Se rrp et oie mn 7 ‘am vein Mi the chaplain ann unted mimselt as sucll ree reporters, the HERALD reporter, W! ol had no reasou to doubt his. statement but who bi since learned that there 13 no such | recogu! oficial. The Christian ministers and lay men al women who have done what they could for the sufferers deserve all honor, but they form the me! age ivag ) Ciristian population of New Yor! who ve done more suey won this emergency A RESPONSE FROM A CHRISTIAN MOTHER( To THE Epitor oF THB HERALD:. In reading your issue of to-day I observe that y: comment severely on the apparent want of symp: thy among Christian women. fi You say, “What has become of all the ladiesf charitvble.and benevolent societies’ connected wit! the churches of the city, ana are there no kin people to help the Sisters in their attentions to thd wounded ?”? Asto charitable institutions or other soothe, f belong to none but to the last named ciass, “kin people,” and have a heart and willing hands to help all sufferers within my power, if it ts only to gival the “cup of water” and “brush the flies from ig wounded.” Many with myself would be glad ny service in their power, I offered n plenty of nurses. enirce to hospitals that private have not; besides, their dress denotes their vocation; which makes easy access to sufferers. If nurses assistants are needed (supposing you to be posted) will you, with the cry for assistants wanted, pl denote the way in which assistance may be render: and see if Christian women are all slumbering? Inform ‘the “kind hearted” how they may reacl Bellevue quietly and without parade, to acdministe! to those suifering ones all that.a kind heart woul Prompt, CHRISTIAN MOTHER, ; New YorK, August 2, 1871. [The greatest need of female assistants 1s now Passed through. “Christian Mother” may yet bd able to comfort some lonely one and cheer so downcast patient. If a stranger she must apply ai the office of the Commisstoners of Charities and Cord rection, Third avenue, corner of Eleventh street Procure & pass, and if she desires to enter the a pital more than once this pass must be countersign by the Warden, Mr. Brenban, or he may give one bis own. The dress of the Sisters gives-them the entrée, but te protect the institution from the fyi sion of improper persons some routine must be fol lowed for all other persons than doctors, clergymen, oficials and representatives of the press. | DOING GOOD BY STEALTO. ‘The appalling disaster of Sunday last by the e: plosion of the steamer Westfield, which has such a gloom of sorrow over our citizens and ren dered many a home a scene of woe, is now the sub Ject of governmental inguiry and demandq on behalf of the people a full and col rehensive investigation. The members of the Jom |. Bradiey, Eighteenth Ward Tammany Association, learning through the medium of tne press that: tha friends of one of the victims, Klien O’vonnor, now, lying at the Morgue, were not in a posttion td defray the expenses of her interiuent, ded sirous of performing an act of public charity, aud not wishing her remains. to receive a Vater ed burial, called @ special meeting, on last evening, and resolved to see her remains de- posites in an honorabie grave in Oal vary Cemetery, instructions were given at a lave hour last evening to an uadertaker to carry out the wishes of the meeting, Which was held at the Mechanivs’ House, Fitreenta band First avenue, PROPERTY FOUND, Captain Cameron, of tne Eighteenth precinct, year terday sent to the Coroners’ Ofice a black willow hand basket, containing a new black cloth vest and two brown towels, which had been left with him by Mrs. Anu Jenkins, residing at 308 East Twentys eighth street. Merson, on Sunday last, found the property near the wreck of the ferryboat Westields THE SECOND AVENUE CAR OUTRAGE, Dezth of Ofte of the Victims—No Clue to the Murderers—Unpiain Mount in Pursuit. The particulars relating to the outrage on a Second avenue car, by which Thomas Owens and Joba Vel- tour, both passengers, were pushed from the front Platform by some unknown drunken ruMans, wer€ published in Wednesday's HeRaD. Mr. Deltout ‘was taken to his residence, No. 65 Hester street, ang attended by several surgeons, but he sank gradually, and mortification subsequently setting in, death ey sued at half-past ten o'clock yesterday morning, } Mr. Delvour, a single man, twenty-seven years age and born in Ireland, was clerk in a ship chane dlery store at 87 South street. The wheels of thi car passed over the left leg of deoeased, below the knee, crushing the bones most fearfully, and had amputation of the limb been resorted tp possibly the life of deceased might have been saved; but it i@- stated Mr. Deltour was averse to tne operation bein; periormed, Owens stif Hes in Bellevue Hospitat in a very criti< cal condition, the chances being against his recov. ery. Uwens, who had only been in the country tw@ or three weeks, resides at 664 Douglass street Brook where he nus a family. It appears tha at ajate hour one of the Second avenue cars (No. 60) was coming down First avenue with a heav load of passengers, and when near Seventeen! sireet four men, much under the influence of liquor, jumped on the front platform, soon after which one of them got into a wrangiec with Patrick Floou, the driver, and finally spi: in his face. A clinch et sued, but order being: apeediiy restored was main- tamed till the car reached ith _ stree! when Flood was violently and witnou' warning buried trom his position to the pavement, bruising bim badly and tearing his: clothes nearly off, The car had passed on but alew feet when Deltour and Owens were pushed off the front platform together, and falling on the track thé wheels passed over and crushed their legs, Toe villams gutlty of this murderous act instantly jumped off on the oppos te side of the car and hasttl! disappeared, They nave not since been seen, an neiiuer Flood nor Owens seems able to describe theny in @ manner calculated to lead to their identll- cation Oi in Mount, of the Seventeenth precinct, and the oflvers of his command are in active pursuit of the gang of murderers, and, if possipie, they will be secured. ) Mr. Bervey Wood, Superintendent of the Second Avenue Railroad Company, has also taken tha matter in hand, and has found several persons wag can jive important tesumony in the case. John Godsell, one of the men on the front plat- forin of the car, 13 a seaman, and has left on a cruise of three or four weeks. Coroner Schirmer will commence an investigation As soon as the witnesses can be secured, Jt may be f adonad to state that after the occurrence Fiood, ig river of the ¢ar, was arrested, on the complaint deceased and Owens, who charged him with push- ing them from the car, and he was released on ball. Flood says positively that he was Orst pusbed trom the car, at which me deceased and Owens stood on the front platiorm. The Coroner's investigation will develop tue real facts, CRIME IN WILLIAMSBURG. At @late hour on Wednesday night, during an altercation at the corner of Boerum and Smith streets, Williamsburg, John Schum, @ native of Germany, twenty-five years of age, recelved a seri- ous stab wound in the right gro. He was con« veyed to his residence, 127 Scholes street, where ba now lies in@ precarious condition. Yesterday Dey tective Short arrested John Heisher, Stephen Hartmann and Lorenz Zimmer to answee for the offence, They weve all taken to the bedsiue) of the wounded man vy direction of Coroner Whitehill for identification, but Mr. Schum could not tdentify either as his assailant The prisonerd were subsequently arraigned beiore Justice Lames, who committed them tor examination to-morrow, Yesterday afternoon Detective Langan arrested Henry Fisher, twenty years of age, to answer for entering the residence of Stephen Schaur, 113 Grand strect, and steaiing therefrom property valued at $37, @ double-barrelled gun being among the articles stolen, At alate hour yesterday OMcer Burrill caught @ thief in the residence of iT. W. Atwood, 85 Bedford avenue, the family being absent, The thief, wha gave the pame of John Clark, Dad cast aside his own dilapidated clothing, and was decently attired in a suit of Mr. Atwood’s when the officer secured him. On being locked up in the station nouse Clark attempted to pick the lock of his cell and he waa immediately handcutted, CHILD MURDER AND SUICIDE. Sr. Louis, August 3, 1871, The dead bodies of Mrs. Loring and child (twa years old) were found just outside of La Cygne, Kansas, on the 20th of July. It appears that the been yery sick, and tho mother. had focome: deran ed, trom anxiety In watching it. On the morning the 20th she took the child and left the houge, and some hours after their bodies were found im ‘the woods skirting the town. She had choked the child a ah down its throat, and then killed herself by tog @ Tag around Ler throat so tightly as to strangie her, GENERAL SHERMAN, OswEGo, August 8, 1871, General W. T. Sherman arrived in this city at hal past nine o’clock last evening, from Watertown, He visited Fort Ontario this morning, and wa called on by @ number of citizens and ariny oificers, He leaves at half-past two P.M, for Syracuse, ang ‘Will go theuce to Wasblogton,